Torpedo



Jun? 16, 1925.

A. T. HALL TORPEDO Filed Aug. 12. 1920 Patented .lune 16, 1925.

,UNITED STATES v Ainnrzwfr- Hanno@ NEWPQREC, RHODE IsLAND, Assrsnoa To Y v or THE, UNITED srA'rnS.V

PATENT `mfr-lacie,

THE GovEeNMENm ToRPEno.

Application filed `August '12, 1920. Serial No. 403,050.

To all whom t may. concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREWY T. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, Rhode Island, `have inventedinew and useful Improvements yin.Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes vand more particularly'to what is known vas the watery sprayV associated with the ycombustion'fiaskof the torpedo. f

{As'is well-known to those `skilled in the art, 'the torpedo :is driven by what might be termed the products: of combustion formed by the admision to the combustion flask of alcohol which is ignited, compressed air, and Water which isV converted into steam. rlhis mixture of gasespasses from the combustion flask to theturbine all lin a well-known manner.

The Apresent invention is designed to eliminate the necessity of a check valve in the water` sprayand comprisesa simple and practicalfconstructionwhich may be easily and inexpensively manufactured and assembled aswell as installed in combustion flasks now in general use without material alteration. e

'YA further object v`is to provide a water spray which w`il1 bemore reliable and efiicient in use-and operation and adapted to insure the firingofyafsuccessful hot shot by eliminating 'the' heretofore-danger of eX- tinguishing the alcohol liameibyftoo early an admission of the water tothe combustion flask. I

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 1 is aV vertical, longitudinal, sectional view showing part of the combustion flask and the water spray associated therewith.

y Figure 2 is across 'sectional view taken on substantially the line 2/2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the lower part of the spray in open position. Referring now to the drawings in detail, 6 denotes the `upper part of the combustion flask of standard construction provided with an opening 8 through which the water spray member 10 is adapted to pass and in ,shown in Figure 1.

which it is secured. This water-sprayvmember comprises broadly the tubulariniember shown provided with a ,hollow central bore 11, the upperpart of` which is provided with a' lateral .passage :l2 communicatingV with passagel toa pipe' coupling 14, the water Vbeing `admitted through pipe 15 4,from the main supply tank. "The member 14 is ofl peculiar shape adapted to surround thebody member ofthe spray and be held inlocked losition thereby whentheparts are .assem- The present invention resides more speciiicallyqinY thelower part ofthe spray. A main spray memberl is threaded in to the endof the tubular member l0 and is provided witlra dependent'portion 117 slottedfat v18 through which a `pin or key20 passes to hold a closing member 21' in the position v The member 16 as show-n more clearly in Figure 2 vis provided with a plurality ofy inletopenings 22'e-xtending substantially parallel with theaxes and terminating at the lower ends with a lateral bore 23 communicating with a chamber 24 closed' byf'means of plugs` 25. The lower part of this chamberl is-provided with a lateral outlet 2,6normally closed bythe closure member 2.1Jwhich is held ini its closed position bymeansof a fusible sleeve27. This fusiblessmember 27 is held in placejby means of a .screw plug 28 whichfalso .en-

gages the lower end: ofthe .dependent portion 17 and isf held infplaceby means'ofpin 30 after the parts are assembled.

The operation of this device is substantially as follows When the torpedo is fired the piston ignites the alcohol burner not shown and the heat within the combustion flask quickly melts the fusible member 27 whereupon the Water pressure entering from pipe 15 through tubular member 10, passages 22 and 23 to chamber 24 and outlet 26 urges the closing member 21 downwardly as ermitted by the pin and slotconnections a ter which the water is sprayed into the combustion flask and converted intoV steam by action of the alcohol burner.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the device herein shown will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that various modifications will suggest themselves and it is, therefore, intended that the accompanying claims shall be construed as broadly as possible in View of the art to cover such modifications. t

The invention is of simple and practical construction, reliable and eliicient in use and operation and is particularly adaptable for member at one end* of said tubular member and fusible means normally holding the outlet to said spray member in closed condition.

3. In combination with the combustion flask of a torpedo, a Water spray therein comprising. a tubular member connected With the source of Water supply, a spray member at one end of said tubular member, means normally closingthe outlet to said spray member and fusible means associated with saidclosing means adapted to release the closing means on material increasein temperature.

4. In a Water spray Within the combustion ask of torpedoes, in combination, a tubular member adapted to be connected with a source of liuid,'said tubular vmember having outlet openings at its opposite end and means including a fusible holding member normally closing said outlet openings.

-5. In a spray device Within the combus tion flask of a torpedo, in combination, a tubular member connected'vvith a source of Huid supply and outlet openings near one end, a member normally closing said outlet openings and fusible means holding said member in closing position and adapted to release the same on material increase of temperature in the combustion ask.

6. In combination With a torpedo flask, a spray device therein comprising a tubular member adapted to be connected with a source of fluid pressure, a spray member near one end thereof= including a plurality of outlet openings, a member normally closing said outlet openings and having a sliding connection with the spray member and a fusible member normally holding said closing member in closing position and adapted to release the same when the temperature in the combustion flask is materially increased.v

7. In combination with the combustion flask of a torpedo, a spray device therein comprising a tubularbody member, a spray having a plurality of openings associated With one end thereof, a member normally closing said openings and having a sliding connection with said spray member, a fusible sleeve holding said closing member in normally closing position and means securing said fusible sleeve in position whereby when said fusible sleeve melts, the closing member drops away from said spray-openings.

8. A spray device WithinA the combustion tlaskof a torpedo comprising a tubular member connected with a suitable source of uid pressure in a spray head having a plurality of longitudinal openings connected with laterallyextending outlet openings, a sleeve, membernormally closing said openings having a sliding connection With the spray head and a fusible sleeve holding said closing member in position and adapted to release said closing means when the temperature insaid flask is materially increased.

Signed at Newport, Rhode Island, this 13 day of March, 1920. y Y

, ANDREW T. HALL. 

